Autonomous vehicle laws

States have begun developing legal frameworks for self-driving vehicles, but widespread deployment is still a long way off. Read more on our advanced driver assistance page.

This material has been prepared for general information purposes only. It is not guaranteed to be current and should be independently verified. Do not rely on it when considering how a law may apply to your circumstances.

September 2023

State	What type of driving automation on public roads does the law/provision permit?	Require an operator to be licensed?	Require an operator to be in the vehicle?	Require liability insurance?
		Does the driving automation law/provision...
Alabama	deployment — commercial motor vehicles only	not addressed	no	yes; $2,000,000
Arizona	deployment	depends on level of vehicle automation^{Footnote 1}	depends on level of vehicle automation^{Footnote 2}	yes
Arkansas	deployment — commercial purposes only	yes	depends on level of vehicle automation^{Footnote 3}	yes^{Footnote 4}
California	deployment	depends on vehicle^{Footnote 5}	no	yes; $5,000,000
Colorado	deployment	no	not addressed	no
Connecticut	testing	yes	yes	yes; $5,000,000
District of Columbia	testing	yes^{Footnote 6}	no	yes; $5,000,000
Florida	deployment	depends on level of vehicle automation^{Footnote 7}	depends on level of vehicle automation^{Footnote 2}	yes
Georgia	deployment	depends on level of vehicle automation^{Footnote 7}	depends on level of vehicle automation^{Footnote 2}	yes^{Footnote 8}
Hawaii	testing	not addressed	yes	not addressed
Illinois	testing	yes	yes	yes
Iowa	deployment	yes	depends on level of vehicle automation^{Footnote 2}	yes
Kansas	deployment	depends on level of vehicle automation^{Footnote 1}	no^{Footnote 9}	yes
Louisiana	deployment — commercial motor vehicles only	depends on vehicle^{Footnote 10}	no	yes; $2,000,000
Maine	testing	not addressed	no	yes; $5,000,000
Massachusetts	testing	yes	yes	yes^{Footnote 11}
Michigan	depends on vehicle^{Footnote 12}	yes	no	yes
Mississippi	deployment	not addressed^{Footnote 13}	no	yes^{Footnote 14}
Nebraska	deployment	depends on level of vehicle automation^{Footnote 1}	depends on level of vehicle automation^{Footnote 2}	yes
Nevada	deployment	depends on level of vehicle automation^{Footnote 7}	depends on level of vehicle automation^{Footnote 2}	yes^{Footnote 15}
New Hampshire	deployment	depends on vehicle^{Footnote 16}	depends on level of vehicle automation^{Footnote 2}	yes^{Footnote 17}
New Mexico	testing	depends on vehicle^{Footnote 18}	depends on level of vehicle automation^{Footnote 2}	yes; $5,000,000
New York	testing	yes	yes	yes; $5,000,000
North Carolina	deployment	depends on level of vehicle automation^{Footnote 7}	no	yes
North Dakota	deployment	depends on level of vehicle automation^{Footnote 7}	depends on level of vehicle automation^{Footnote 2}	yes
Ohio	testing	yes	no	yes
Oklahoma	deployment	not addressed^{Footnote 13}	no	yes; $1,000,000
Pennsylvania	deployment	yes	no	yes; $1,000,000
Tennessee	deployment	no	no	yes; $5,000,000
Texas	deployment	no	no	yes
Utah	deployment	depends on level of vehicle automation^{Footnote 7}	no	yes
Vermont	testing	yes	yes	yes; $5,000,000
Virginia	testing	not addressed	not addressed	no
Washington	testing	depends on whether operator present in vehicle	no	yes; $5,000,000
West Virginia	deployment	depends on level of vehicle automation^{Footnote 7}	no	yes^{Footnote 19}

Footnotes

^{Footnote 1} A vehicle that requires a human to take over driving (Level 3 of the SAE Levels of Driving Automation) requires a licensed human driver. ↩
^{Footnote 2} A vehicle that does not require a human to take over driving (Level 4 or Level 5 of the SAE Levels of Driving Automation) does not require a human to be in the vehicle. ↩
^{Footnote 3} Arkansas does not require a steering wheel in a "fully autonomous vehicle," which must be "capable of achieving a minimal risk condition” in the event of a failure. ↩
^{Footnote 4} Arkansas requires an "autonomous vehicle program" to comply with "the minimum liability insurance coverage requirements" under 49 C.F.R. § 387.9 as that section existed on January 1, 2021. ↩
^{Footnote 5} A vehicle undergoing tests requires a licensed human driver. ↩
^{Footnote 6} The District requires a "test operator" or "remote operator," who must successfully complete a training program. ↩
^{Footnote 7} A vehicle that does not require a human to take over driving (Level 4 or Level 5 of the SAE Levels of Driving Automation) does not require a licensed human driver. ↩
^{Footnote 8} Georgia requires a “fully autonomous vehicle” operating “without a human driver” to have liability insurance equivalent to the minimum required under existing insurance law. ↩
^{Footnote 9} Although Kansas requires a driver to be physically present in a "driverless-capable vehicle" for the first 12 consecutive months it is in service, this provision does not apply if the vehicle is not intended to carry human occupants or if the vehicle lacks manual controls for driver operation. ↩
^{Footnote 10} If a vehicle uses a remote driver, that driver must be licensed. ↩
^{Footnote 11} Massachusetts requires applicants who seek to test to maintain a variety of insurance coverages, including commercial general liability, automobile, and workers compensation insurance. ↩
^{Footnote 12} Michigan authorizes testing of any "automated motor vehicle" and deployment of "on-demand automated motor vehicle networks." ↩
^{Footnote 13} The "automated driving system" is considered to be licensed to operate the vehicle. ↩
^{Footnote 14} Mississippi requires “fully autonomous vehicles” operating without a "human driver" to have liability insurance equivalent to the minimum required under existing insurance law. ↩
^{Footnote 15} Nevada requires a company or person seeking to test to have $5,000,000 of liability insurance and requires an "autonomous vehicle network company" to have $1,500,000. ↩
^{Footnote 16} If a vehicle uses a test driver, that driver must be licensed. ↩
^{Footnote 17} New Hampshire requires “driverless capable vehicles” operating without a “conventional human driver” to have liability insurance equivalent to the minimum required under existing insurance law. ↩
^{Footnote 18} Testing or operating a vehicle with a driver requires that the driver be trained. ↩
^{Footnote 19} West Virginia requires a “fully autonomous motor vehicle” operating without a “human driver” to have liability insurance or self-insurance that satisfies existing insurance law. ↩